Unai Emery: Adios

[Football Manager]

We don't need a striker. Don't be ridiculous. PEA is 1 goal off the top spots...

He means a striker for tactical flexibility.

I always prefer the van persie, suarez, aguero, firmino type of striker(in terms of playing style) , rather than strikers who wait for service and only focus on the end product.

 

[Mark Tobias]

He means a striker for tactical flexibility.

Please explain this notion when we have two very different strikers. How many do you want? We have other, much more glaring, issues to fix in our squad such as the wings and CBs.

 

[OnlyOne]

 

[Makingtrax]

He means a striker for tactical flexibility.

I always prefer the van persie, suarez, aguero, firmino type of striker rather than strikers who wait for service and only focus on the end product.

That’s why Welbeck was a good option to come on and change a game.

 

[OnlyOne]

That’s why Welbeck was a good option to come on and change a game.

We miss Welbeck so much. Lacazette and Auba would be a lot more fresh with him.

 

[Artisan]

Please explain this notion when we have two very different strikers. How many do you want? We have other, much more glaring, issues to fix in our squad such as the wings and CBs.

Man what's so hard to understand? He just wants a striker that's like three of the best strikers to ever play in the PL. Should be easy enough, get your money out Raul.

 

[Vinci]

Think that at least it became very clear that three at the back is the way to go for the rest of the season. Monreal offers very little going forward, AMN and especially Kola are suspect in a back four and we have no proper wingers, so wing-backs who can cover the entire flank on their own are very important.

Definitely needs to be fixed in the summer, though.

 

[say yes]

Convinced that our problems on the road are psychological more than anything. It’s the only explanation that makes any sense given our home dominance.

Last night wasn’t great or remotely pretty but we were solid (despite lacking control) and got the job done which is how Emery set us up to play. Definitely think having Xhaka back helped.

All that matters is winning these games at the moment and shaking that monkey off our back. The fluency and confidence will come.

 

[OnlyOne]

Only Man City have conceded less Premier League goals in 2019 than us.

 

[Makingtrax]

Convinced that our problems on the road are psychological more than anything. It’s the only explanation that makes any sense given our home dominance.

Last night wasn’t great or remotely pretty but we were solid (despite lacking control) and got the job done which is how Emery set us up to play. Definitely think having Xhaka back helped.

All that matters is winning these games at the moment and shaking that monkey off our back. The fluency and confidence will come.

I agree the spell needs to be broken. More bonding and play ‘Eye of a Tiger’ every training session.

 

[Mark Tobias]

I agree the spell needs to be broken. More bonding and play ‘Eye of a Tiger’ every training session.

Half the squad probably wouldn't recognise that track...

 

[Makingtrax]

Half the squad probably wouldn't recognise that track...

That’s where Emery’s been going wrong, show them the Rocky movies and get them pummelling meat carcasses in a cold store.

 

[say yes]

I agree the spell needs to be broken. More bonding and play ‘Eye of a Tiger’ every training session.

People won’t like it but I think we just need to go back to basics in our remaining away games this season.

Keep it solid, don’t concede, and rely on our forwards to get us something from the game.

 

[Mark Tobias]

People won’t like it but I think we just need to go back to basics in our remaining away games this season.

Keep it solid, don’t concede, and rely on our forwards to get us something from the game.

I like that!!

 

[albakos]

Convinced that our problems on the road are psychological more than anything. It’s the only explanation that makes any sense given our home dominance.

I don't think it's as much psychological as it is the fact that Unai is still too conservative away from home, which more often than not backfired.


Michael Cox has a nice article about our issues from last night.
http://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/the...-on-a-plan-a-and-identity-to-progress-forward

 

[Tom349]

Watching Ajax and the potential of the team Im once again left feeling that this is the direction I wanted Arsenal to go in once we moved on from Wenger. Signing players with potential and promoting from within. Lets hope going forward Emery and whoever ends up being our technical director see this as the right path and use the talent we have within the academy to prop up the players we do sign. Of course being a more competitive league and having greater expectations means we can't give out as many chances as what Ajax have done but there is certainly more chances available that what Emery has given our youngsters this season.

 

[Makingtrax]

Watching Ajax and the potential of the team Im once again left feeling that this is the direction I wanted Arsenal to go in once we moved on from Wenger. Signing players with potential and promoting from within. Lets hope going forward Emery and whoever ends up being our technical director see this as the right path and use the talent we have within the academy to prop up the players we do sign. Of course being a more competitive league and having greater expectations means we can't give out as many chances as what Ajax have done but there is certainly more chances available that what Emery has given our youngsters this season.

In an ideal world that would be a worthy aspiration. But the modern world of academy football in general is brutal. The last time a major British club was actually driven by its academy in a meaningful way was probably Man U in its class of 92.

 

[PoleInGoal]

In an ideal world that would be a worthy aspiration. But the modern world of academy football in general is brutal. The last time a major British club was actually driven by its academy in a meaningful way was probably Man U in its class of 92.

Unfortunately this is the way it is, this Ajax team has two generational talents in De Jong and De Ligt who are complemented by other fantastic young players like van de Beek and Neres. The fact is that this is the kind of output you need from an academy to compete at the top level while promoting youth.

You can't use this Ajax team as an example for a long-term football vision because teams like this will turn up once every 10 years

 

[Tom349]

Unfortunately this is the way it is, this Ajax team has two generational talents in De Jong and De Ligt who are complemented by other fantastic young players like van de Beek and Neres. The fact is that this is the kind of output you need from an academy to compete at the top level while promoting youth.

You can't use this Ajax team as an example for a long-term football vision because teams like this will turn up once every 10 years

Nonsense. It was only a couple of seasons ago that Monaco were in a similar position to the one Ajax are in now and both got there from giving youth a chance and making good signings. Sure it helps that De Ligt and Mpabbe came through their youth ranks at the time but for as good as they're, they're not clearly the most valuable player for their teams.

 

[boyinneedofhumor]

Looking at long term, think Emery needs to improve the team's current way of play.

For short term... f*** it man. Just get 3pts in next game. Game by game. The psychological impact cannot be underestimated.
Whoever drops points from here on is likely to be deflated.